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City water profile

South Bend water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for South Bend, Indiana.

Median indexed hardness

276PPM

9 indexed ZIPs

Range 273–290.5 PPM

State comparison
37 PPM below
State hardness rank
#305 of 386
Matched utilities
3
Active health records
0

City summary

What the indexed records say

South Bend has 9 published ZIP profiles across St. Joseph County. The indexed median is 276 PPM, compared with 313 PPM across Indiana.

Among the 386 Indianacities with an indexed median, South Bend ranks #305from highest to lowest. Across all 472 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 132to 371 PPM.

The 273–290.5 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label. At least one estimate is marked low confidence, so observation distance and date deserve extra attention.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs
Moderately hard0 ZIPs
Hard0 ZIPs
Very hard9 ZIPs

9 of 9 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance
23.7 miles
Profiles with evidence
9/9

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 6Low: 3

Observation window: Aug 23, 2016 to May 13, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in South Bend

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

46601

Very Hard

276 PPM

Nearest site
23.7 mi
Confidence
Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

46613

Very Hard

274.5 PPM

Nearest site
24.9 mi
Confidence
Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

46614

Very Hard

273 PPM

Nearest site
26.1 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

46615

Very Hard

290.5 PPM

Nearest site
21.8 mi
Confidence
Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

46616

Very Hard

276 PPM

Nearest site
23.4 mi
Confidence
Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

46617

Very Hard

282 PPM

Nearest site
22.4 mi
Confidence
Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

46619

Very Hard

274.5 PPM

Nearest site
25.6 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

46628

Very Hard

274.5 PPM

Nearest site
25.2 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

46637

Very Hard

282 PPM

Nearest site
21.2 mi
Confidence
Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

South Bend Water Works

PWSID IN5271014

Groundwater
System population served
115,000
Last reported
Jun 30, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Clearwater Village Mobile Home Park

PWSID IN5271012

Groundwater
System population served
400
Last reported
Jun 30, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Sunset Village & Rv Park

PWSID IN5271016

Groundwater
System population served
25
Last reported
Jun 30, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

RecordSystemPeriodStatus
Revised Total Coliform RuleIN5271016Feb 1, 2026Archived
Revised Total Coliform RuleIN5271016Jan 1, 2026Archived
Lead and Copper RuleIN5271016Jan 1, 2026Unaddressed
Public NoticeIN5271016Dec 2, 2025Unaddressed
Revised Total Coliform RuleIN5271016Dec 1, 2025Archived
Revised Total Coliform RuleIN5271014Nov 1, 2025Resolved
Consumer Confidence RuleIN5271016Oct 1, 2025Unaddressed
Consumer Confidence RuleIN5271016Jul 1, 2025Unaddressed
Revised Total Coliform RuleIN5271016Jul 1, 2025Resolved
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UIN5271016Apr 1, 2025Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

  1. 1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
  2. 2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
  3. 3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Questions people ask

About water in South Bend

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 276 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.